Bracket for camera and accessories

ABSTRACT

A camera mounting bracket for holding accessories is provided having a hand held, rectangular frame with a top and bottom having ends that are joined by two opposing sides. The top has a plurality of mounting shoes the top and bottom have threaded holes for mounting photographic or audio accessories. Both sides have a length adjustment mechanism to vary the length of the sides. Both sides have a locking mechanism to releasably lock the sides at a predetermined length, which length is substantially the same. The sides each have a handle and telescope within the handle, with the locking mechanism located at the end of the handle nearest the top so it can be actuated by a user&#39;s thumb.

BACKGROUND

Cameras are sold with one hot shoe or mounting bracket, which istypically used for an electronic flash. But photographers and cinemaphotographers often need additional mounting locations for additionalphotographic or audio accessories, including electronic triggers andslave units, umbrellas, additional flash units, displays, iris rods,hand grips, clamps, accessory brackets, shutter cable releases,microphones, audio sensors, and a variety of other audio and visualaccessories. These accessories are typically configured to slidablyconnect to mounting shoes or threadingly fasten to threaded fasteners ofpredetermined diameters, or to connect to various brackets and mounts. Anumber of brackets exist which typically mount to the bottom of thecamera and extend up one side of the camera to allow additionalaccessories to be mounted or positioned thereon. A recently introducedaccessory frame from K-Tek of Klemme Technology Corp. in Vista, Calif.,has a rectangular frame with a plurality of accessory shoe plates onthree sides of the frame to mount various flash and other accessories,and is sold under the trademark “Norbert.” The frame has a plurality ofthreaded holes in the fourth side to mount cameras, tripods, etc. Butthere nonetheless remains a need for a more user-friendly frame that canaccommodate a variety of cameras and accessory equipment.

BRIEF SUMMARY

A frame is provided having an opposing top and bottom joined by twoopposing sides. A plurality of accessory mounting shoes are provided onthe top and threaded holes are provided on the bottom to mount otheraccessories, cameras and tripods. The sides are each extendable so thedistance between the top and bottom sides can be adjusted. Preferably,but optionally, the sides form griping handles each with a lockingdevice to allow length adjustment in an unlocked position and to holdthe length adjustment in a locked position. Preferably, a rotatingcollar locking device is provided on the top and bottom of each handle,adjacent the top and bottom sides so the length adjustment and lock canbe actuated by a user's thumb. The top and bottom sides have legsextending toward each other and can form a handle. But advantageouslythe legs are enclosed at least partially, and preferably enclosedentirely within the handle when in the collapsed position, with the legsextending out of the handle in the extended position.

In more detail, a camera mounting bracket is provided that comprises ahand held frame having a top and bottom each of having opposing endsthat are joined by two opposing sides. The top has at least one mountingshoe and at least one threaded hole suitable for mounting photographicor audio accessories. The bottom is configured to fasten to a camera. Alength adjustment mechanism is provided in each of the two opposingsides to vary the length of the sides. A locking mechanism is connectedto each of the two opposing sides to releasably lock the sides at apredetermined length, which length is substantially the same.

In further variations, the top has a leg extending from opposing ends ofthe top toward the bottom, with the legs extending along first andsecond axes, respectively Likewise, the bottom has a leg extending fromeach opposing end of the bottom toward the top, along the first andsecond axes, respectively. The legs that extend along the first axes arereceived in a first handle to form one of the sides of the frame. Thelegs extending along the second axes are received in a second handle toform the other of the sides of the frame. The relative movement of thelegs and handles comprise the length adjust mechanism.

The sides may have a length with each leg being less than half thatlength, or about that length. The top preferably has a plurality ofmounting shoes and holes, with the holes including a plurality of ¼×20and ⅜×16 threaded holes. The bottom also preferably has a plurality ofthreaded holes, including holes including a plurality of ¼×20 and ⅜×16threaded holes.

The locking mechanism advantageously comprises a locking nut encirclingat least a portion of at least one leg. The locking nut rotatablyengages the handle with the rotation of the locking nut moving a splitcollet encircling a portion of the leg in the handle. The collet has aninclined surface abutting an inclined surface on the handle to move thecollet toward and away from the leg, so that rotation of the locking nutreleasably fastens the collet and handle to the leg in the handle.Advantageously, each handle has a locking nut and collet at eachopposing end of the handle, to releasably engage a leg extending fromthe top or bottom and into the handle. The frame may have a rectangularshape, with handles parallel to each other and the top and bottomparallel to each other.

In a further embodiment there is provided a hand held frame having anopposing top and bottom, each with a first and second leg extending fromopposing ends of the top and bottom. Each leg extends along one ofsubstantially parallel first or second axes. The top has at least one ofa mounting shoe or a hole therein. The hole may include one of a ¼×20threaded hole or a ⅜×16 threaded hole. The bottom has at least one holeconfigured to fasten a camera to the frame and located so the camera canfit inside the frame. First and second handles are aligned along thefirst and second axes with each handle receiving one leg from the topand one leg from the bottom. Two releasable locking mechanisms areconnected to each handle with each releasable locking mechanismreleasably connecting one of the first and second legs to the handle.

In further variations of this further embodiment, the legs and handlesare tubular, and each handle has two releasable locking mechanisms.Moreover, the locking mechanism may include a split collet encircling aportion of one of the legs. The collet has an inclined surface abuttinga mating surface connected to the handle so that relative movement ofthe mating surfaces clamps or unclamps the collet and partiallyencircled leg. Each handle may have a locking mechanism on the endtoward the top of the frame. The top of the frame may have a pluralityof the threaded holes and a plurality of mounting shoes. The top andbottom are generally parallel. The frame may have a first compactposition in which the legs have distal ends with the distal ends on thefirst axis adjacent each other and the distal ends on the second axisare also adjacent each other. The frame may have a second, expandedposition in which one or both of the distal ends on each axis are nearerto the ends of the handle aligned with that axis.

There is also provided a still further embodiment of a camera mountingbracket, comprising a hand held frame having an opposing top and bottom.One of the top or bottom has a first and second leg extending fromopposing ends thereof toward the other of the bottom or top. Each legextends along one of substantially parallel first or second axes. Thetop has at least one of a mounting shoe or a hole extendingtherethrough. The hole comprises one of a ¼×20 threaded hole or a ⅜×16threaded hole. The bottom has at least one hole configured to receive acamera mounting screw to secure a camera to the frame and located so thecamera can fit inside the frame. The camera mounting bracket further hasfirst and second handles aligned along the first and second axes witheach handle receiving one leg. The bracket further includes a releasablelocking mechanism connected to each handle. Each releasable lockingmechanism releasably connects one of the first and second legs to thehandle to allow a distance between the top and bottom to be adjusted bymoving the legs relative to the handle and locked in position by thelocking mechanism.

In further variations of this still further embodiment of the cameramounting bracket, both the top and bottom have first and second legs andthe handles receive two legs and have two releasable locking mechanismswith each locking mechanism releasably engaging a different leg. Thereleasable locking mechanisms may be located at the end of the handleclosest to the top. Each releasable locking mechanism may include asplit-ring collet encircling a portion of the leg associated with thelocking mechanism, with the collet contracting to lock the associatedleg in position relative to the locking mechanism. The legs may belonger than the handle, or the legs may extend from both the top andbottom and be shorter in length than the handle. The top of the framepreferably has a plurality of the threaded holes and a plurality ofmounting shoes, with the bottom also preferably having a plurality of¼×20 and ⅜×16 threaded holes.

Each of these embodiments provides a camera mounting bracket configuredto mount a camera so it will fit inside the frame, and the frame hasadjustable length sides to accommodate different camera sizes, or toposition accessories fastened to the top of the frame.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

These and other features and advantages of the various embodimentsdisclosed herein will be better understood with respect to the followingdescription and drawings, in which like numbers refer to like partsthroughout, and in which:

FIG. 1 is a top perspective view of the adjustable camera frame of thisinvention showing mounting holes and shoe mounts;

FIG. 2 is a further top perspective view of the adjustable frame of FIG.1 in a retracted configuration;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the frame of FIG. 1 in an extendedconfiguration;

FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view of adjustable frame of FIG. 3;and

FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken along section 5-5 of FIG. 2.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Referring to FIGS. 1-5, a frame 10 is provided having a top 12 andbottom 14 on opposing sides of the frame. Two opposing and adjustablelength sides 16 a, 16 b join the top 12 and bottom 14. Preferably, butoptionally, the frame 10 is rectangular in shape with straight andparallel top 12 and bottom 14, and parallel handles 16 a, 16 b. One orboth of the top 12 and bottom 14 could be curved of have a differentshape. The top 12 and bottom 14 are each advantageously made of a striphaving a generally rectangular cross section to form a wider surface onthe exterior and interior facing sides of the top 12.

At least one, and preferably a plurality of mounting shoes 18 are formedor provided on the top 12, preferably on the outer facing surface of thetop 12. Preferably the mounting shoes 18 are equally spaced along alength of the top 12, and located toward one edge of the top 18. Themounting shoes 18 have centerline 20 along which photographicaccessories may optionally slide to mount and dismount the accessories.Optionally, a plurality of threaded holes 22 are also provided in thetop 12, and preferably the holes extend along the opposing edge of thetop 12 from the mounting shoes 18. The holes 22 are preferably ofdifferent sizes, and more preferably alternate between two or more sizescommonly used with photography accessories, with at least one hole sizeadvantageously being ¼ inch. The holes 22 are advantageously alignedwith a center line 20 so the centerline 20 passes through the center ofthe holes 22. The top surface of the mounting shoes 18 advantageouslyare substantially in the same plane as the outward facing surface of thetop 12 in which the holes 22 are formed. The mounting shoes 18 may thusbe recessed into the top 12 of frame 10. But the holes 22 and mountingshoes 18 could be formed on the inner facing surface of the top 12, orhave other relative locations and orientations. The mounting shoes areadvantageously formed along a back edge of the top 12 of frame 10, withthe holes 22 formed along the rear or back edge. As used herein, thefront refers to the direction in which the camera lens is directed.

The bottom 14 of frame 10 may have mounting shoes 18 and holes 22 formedtherein, but advantageously the bottom 14 has only holes 22. The bottom14 advantageously has a generally rectangular cross-section withthreaded holes 22 extending therethrough along an axis extending towardand preferably intersecting top 12. The holes 22 in the bottom 14 mayhave various locations, but preferably occur in pairs adjacent opposingedges of the bottom 14. Thus, one series of holes extend along a frontedge of the bottom 14 and a mating series of holes 22 extend along arear edge of the bottom 14 of frame 10. Optionally, but preferably, atthe middle of the bottom 14 and centered between opposing edges is amounting hole 22 configured to mount a camera. Advantageously,additional camera mounting holes 22 are adjacent that center mountinghole 22, and also centered between the edges of the bottom 12, so that acamera can be mounted at the center, middle of the bottom 14 or slightlyoffset therefrom. A preferred camera mounting pattern has three largerdiameter holes 22 along a longitudinal axis of bottom 14, with smallerdiameter holes 22 along an axis perpendicular thereto. The mountingholes 22 are configured and located so the bracket 10 can be mounted toa tripod. Further, the bracket 10, and especially the bottom 14 isconfigured so that a bracket to hold iris rods can be mounted to thebottom 14, or elsewhere on the bracket 10 as desired by the userLikewise, the bottom 14 and holes 22 are located and configured so thata universal camera quick release can be releasably fastened to thebottom 14.

The sides 16 a, 16 b are preferably constructed the same, but could havea different configuration, including at least one hand grip with abuilt-in shutter release cables adapted to be connected to the actuationbutton or mechanism of a camera or video camera. The sides 16 are ofadjustable length. Referring to FIGS. 3-4, at least one, and preferablyboth of the top 12 and bottom 14 have a leg 26 extending therefromconnected to the other of the bottom and top. Advantageously, a leg 26extends from opposing ends of top 12 and from opposing ends of bottom12, and extends toward the other of the bottom or top. Advantageously,the legs 26 extend perpendicular to the bottom 12 and top 14, preferablyfrom the wider side of the generally rectangular cross-section on thetop and bottom.

A separate mounting cup 30 is fastened at each, opposing end of top 12and bottom 14, on the facing sides of the top and bottom. A threadedfastener can extend through the respective top 12 or bottom 14 and intothe closed end of the mounting cup 30 to secure the mounting cup to thetop or bottom to which the mounting cup 30 is fastened. Other permanentand/or releasable fastening means could be used, including rivets,melting, welding, adhesives or threads. Legs 26 may be fastened tomounting cup 20, including the fastening means discussed immediatelyabove.

The distal ends of legs 26 have a low friction surface provided byplastic sliders 32. Teflon, nylon or other plastic or elastomericmaterials may be used. Any material is suitable that reduces slidingbetween the distal end of leg 26 and the mating part(s). Advantageously,the slider 32 encircles the distal end of the leg 26 and sets in arecess formed in that distal end. A strip of Teflon tape is believedsuitable. The slider 32 may be referred to herein as an encirclingportion as it encircles part of the leg 26. Another encircling strip oftape 34 is provided adjacent the slider 32, and is also referred to asan encircling portion.

Opposing legs 26 on different ones of top 12 and bottom 14 fit inside ahandle 36 having external threads 38 on opposing ends of the handle. Thelegs 26 also each pass through a tubular locking collar 40 having anopening through which one of the legs 26 extends and a skirt 42 withinternal threads 39 (FIG. 5) to mate with threads 38. The locking collar40 has an internal recess 46 configured to receive a mating protrusion,flange or collar 48 extending outward from collet 50 which encircles theleg 26 The collet 50 is preferably split so it does not completely andcontinuously encircle the leg 26 and can thus move toward and away fromthe encircled leg. The collet 50 has an inclined surface 52 (FIGS. 4-5)located to abut a mating inclined surface 54 (FIGS. 4-5) on the adjacentdistal end of the handle 36. Thus, as the locking collar 40 rotates, theengaged threads 38, 44 cause the inclined surfaces 52, 54 to move inopposing directions, forcing collet 40 inward against the leg 26 to lockthe leg in position. Similar locking collars 40 are advantageouslylocated at each connection of the handle 36 with a leg 26, with legs 26similarly constructed. Advantageously, a softer gripping surface 56 isprovided around the exterior of the handle 36.

The encircling portions 32, 34 are advantageously wide enough in adirection along the length of leg 26 to provide some stability againstwobbling as the legs 26 on top 12 or bottom 16 extend unequal distancesinto or out of the handles 36, and are slippery enough to help reducebinding when one leg 26 is extends unequal distances into or out of thehandles 36. For legs 26 about three inches long and about ⅝ inch indiameter, canting of about ⅜ of an inch is believed achievable withoutbinding. The sides 16 are thus adjustable in length, such that top andbottoms 12, 14 remain substantially parallel.

In use, a camera is mounted to the bottom side 14 of frame 10,preferably at the middle of the side 14. The camera is directly mountedto the side 12 or a releasable camera mount is mounted to the bottom 12of frame 14 and the camera mounted in turn to the mount. One or moreaccessories may be fastened to the frame 10 using the shoe mounts 18 orthe holes 22. If the user wants more distance between the top and bottomsides 12, 14 of frame 10, the locking collars 40 on the two opposingsides 16 can be loosened, legs 26 extended to lengthen sides 16, and thecollar 40 tightened. The locking collars 40 adjacent top 12 areadvantageously located so a person gripping handle 26 by hand can rotatecollars 40 with the user's thumbs.

One or both of the encircling strips 32, 34 extend outward from the leg26 to which they are fastened to engage an inward projecting rib orportion of collet 50, to keep the sides 16 from completely separating.Because the collet 50 is split, pulling firmly in opposing directions onhandle 36 and leg 26 or its attached top 12 or bottom 14 can cause thecollet 50 to expand and slide over the encircling strips 32, 34 andseparate the leg 26 from the 36 handle to which the leg was connected.For assembly, the collet 50 is fit into the locking nut so the colletflange 48 fits into the recess 46 in the locking nut, and as needed theslit in the collet can be spread apart to ease the collet over theencircling strips 32, 34.

The handle 36 is shown as receiving two legs from each of the top 12 andbottom 14. Each handle 36 could receive a single, longer leg in whichcase the leg would be connected to either the top 12 or the bottom 14.It is believed preferable, however, to have four legs 26, with distalends of two axially aligned and opposing legs being adjacent each otherwhen fully extending inside handle 36. When the distal ends of legs 26are adjacent each other in handle 36 and then extended to their greatestdistance without disengaging from locking nut 40, the length of side 16can be about doubled. If one leg 26 nests inside the other leg withinthe handle 36, then the length of side 16 can be increased about threetimes the smallest length.

The frame 10 is shows with the frame being planar and passing throughthe longitudinal centerline of the top 12, bottom 14 and the two sides16. The legs 26 and sides 16 could be inclined relative to the top andbottom 12, 14, so that the top 12 can extend forward or rearward of thebottom frame 14 along the optical axis of a camera mounted to the frame10. Instead of mounting cups 30 being perpendicular to the widersurfaces of the top and bottom frames 12, 14, the cups 30 could beinclined at the desired angle. Relatively small angles are preferred,preferably less than 30 degrees and more preferably from 5-15 degrees.

Various length adjust and locking mechanisms can be used, includingthose shown and described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 2,354,966, 2,284,114,3,516,343, 3,601,028, 3,820,801, 4,086,718, 4,932,622, 5,492,430,5,649,780, 6,594,371, and Publication 2008/0253600, the completecontents of which are incorporated herein by reference. The rotating nut40 and each of the above incorporated by reference locking mechanismscomprises a mechanism for releasably adjusting the length of leg 26 orside 16, and also comprises a mechanism for releasably locking the leg26 or side 16 in position relative to handle 36 and/or relative to oneor both of top and bottom sides 12, 14.

The top and bottom 12, 14 are advantageously made of plastic, a highdensity elastomer or metal, and preferably made of aluminum. A metalstrap about 0.2 inch by 1.5 inches in cross section, and about 11 incheslong, with nine shoe mounts 18 cut into the surface and holes 20 tappedin the metal is believed suitable. ¼×20 and ⅜×16 threaded holes 22 arepreferred. The sides 16 are preferably made of plastic, a high densityelastomer, metal or composite, such as graphite epoxy composite.Graphite epoxy tubes about 0.7 inches in diameter are believed suitable.The centerlines of sides 16 are advantageously spaced about 10.5 inchesapart. The hand grip 56 can be made of a foamed elastomer. The shoemounts 18 are standard camera mounting shoes about 0.45 inches wide andabout 0.7 or more inches long.

The frame 10 is hand held, weighing less than about 10 pounds with noaccessories or attachments, and advantageously weighs only a few pounds,and preferably weighs less than two pounds.

As required, detailed embodiments of the present invention are disclosedherein; however, it is to be understood that the disclosed embodimentsare merely exemplary of the invention, which may be embodied in variousforms. Therefore, specific structural and functional details disclosedherein are not to be interpreted as limiting, but merely as a basis forthe claims and as a representative basis for teaching one skilled in theart to variously employ the present invention in virtually anyappropriately detailed structure.

The above description is given by way of example, and not limitation.Given the above disclosure, one skilled in the art could devisevariations that are within the scope and spirit of the inventiondisclosed herein, including various ways of extending the sides 16 andreleasably locking them at the desired length. Further, the variousfeatures of the embodiments disclosed herein can be used alone, or invarying combinations with each other and are not intended to be limitedto the specific combination described herein. Thus, the scope of theclaims is not to be limited by the illustrated embodiments.

1. A camera mounting bracket, comprising: a hand held frame having a topand bottom each having opposing ends that are joined by two opposingsides, the top having at least one mounting shoe and at least onethreaded hole suitable for mounting photographic or audio accessories;the bottom configured to fasten to a camera; a length adjustmentmechanism in each of the two opposing sides is provided to vary thelength of the sides; a locking mechanism on each of the two opposingsides to releasably lock the sides at a predetermined length, whichlength is substantially the same.
 2. The camera mounting bracket ofclaim 1, wherein the top has a leg extending from each opposing end ofthe top toward the bottom along first and second axes, respectively, andthe bottom has a leg extending from each opposing end of the bottomtoward the top, along the first and second axes, respectively, with theleg extending along the first axes received in a first handle to formone of the sides and the legs extending along the second axes receivedin a second handle to form the other of the sides, the relative movementof the legs and handles comprising the length adjust mechanism.
 3. Thecamera mounting bracket of claim 2, wherein the sides have a length andeach leg is less than half that length.
 4. The camera mounting bracketof claim 2, wherein the sides have a length and each leg is less thanthat length.
 5. The camera mounting bracket of claim 1, wherein the tophas a plurality of mounting shoes and holes, with the holes including aplurality of ¼×20 and ⅜×16 threaded holes.
 6. The camera mountingbracket camera frame of claim 2, wherein the top has a plurality ofmounting shoes and threaded holes, and wherein the bottom has aplurality of holes, including holes including a plurality of ¼×20 and⅜×16 threaded holes.
 7. The camera mounting bracket of claim 2, whereinthe locking mechanism comprises a locking nut encircling at least aportion of at least one leg, the locking nut rotatably engaging thehandle, the rotation of the locking nut moving a split collet encirclinga portion of the at least one leg and having an inclined surfaceabutting an inclined surface on the handle to move the collet toward andaway from the leg, so that rotation of the locking nut releasablyfastens the collet and handle to the at least one leg.
 8. The cameramounting bracket of claim 7, wherein each handle has a locking nut andcollet at each opposing end of the handle.
 9. The camera mountingbracket of claim 8, wherein the frame has a rectangular shape, withhandles parallel to each other and the top and bottom parallel to eachother.
 10. A camera mounting bracket, comprising: a hand held framehaving an opposing top and bottom each with a first and second legextending from opposing ends of the top and bottom, with each legextending along one of substantially parallel first or second axes, thetop having at least one of a mounting shoe connected thereto or a holetherein, the hole comprising one of a ¼×20 threaded hole or a ⅜×16threaded hole, the bottom having at least one hole configured to fastena camera to the frame and located so the camera can fit inside theframe. first and second handles aligned along the first and second axeswith each handle receiving one leg from the top and one leg from thebottom; and two releasable locking mechanisms connected to each handle,each releasable locking mechanism releasably connecting one of the firstand second legs to the handle.
 11. The camera mounting bracket of claim10, wherein the legs and handles are tubular, and each handle has tworeleasable locking mechanisms.
 12. The camera mounting bracket of claim10, wherein the locking mechanism includes a split collet encircling aportion of one of the legs and having an inclined surface abutting amating surface connected to the handle so that relative movement of themating surfaces clamps or unclamps the collet and partially encircledleg.
 13. The camera mounting bracket of claim 11, wherein the lockingmechanism includes a split collet encircling a portion of one of thelegs and having an inclined surface abutting a mating surface connectedto the handle so that relative movement of the mating surfaces clamps orunclamps the collet and partially encircled leg.
 14. The camera mountingbracket of claim 11, wherein each handle has a locking mechanism on anend toward the top of the frame, and the top of the frame has aplurality of the threaded holes and a plurality of mounting shoes. 15.The camera mounting bracket of claim 14, wherein the top and bottom aregenerally parallel.
 16. The camera mounting bracket of claim 11, theframe having a first compact position in which the legs have distal endswith the distal ends on the first axis adjacent each other and thedistal ends on the second axis are also adjacent each other.
 17. Acamera mounting bracket, comprising a hand held frame having an opposingtop and bottom, one of the top or bottom having a first and second legextending from opposing ends thereof toward the other of the bottom ortop, with each leg extending along one of substantially parallel firstor second axes, the top having at least one of a mounting shoe connectedthereto or a hole therein, the hole comprising one of a ¼×20 threadedhole or a ⅜×16 threaded hole, the bottom having at least one holeconfigured to receive a camera mounting screw to secure a camera to theframe and located so the camera can fit inside the frame; first andsecond handles aligned along the first and second axes with each handlereceiving one leg; and a releasable locking mechanism connected to eachhandle, each releasable locking mechanism releasably connecting one ofthe first and second legs to the handle to allow a distance between thetop and bottom to be adjusted by moving the legs relative to the handleand locked in position by the locking mechanism.
 18. The camera mountingbracket of claim 17, wherein both the top and bottom have first andsecond legs and the handles receive two legs and have two releasablelocking mechanisms with each locking mechanism releasably engaging adifferent leg.
 19. The camera mounting bracket of claim 17, wherein thereleasable locking mechanisms are located at the end of the handleclosest to the top.
 20. The camera mounting bracket of claim 18, whereineach releasable locking mechanism includes a split-ring colletencircling a portion of the leg associated with the locking mechanismand which contracts to lock the associated leg in position relative tothe locking mechanism.
 21. The camera mounting bracket of claim 17,wherein the legs are longer than the handle.
 22. The camera mountingbracket of claim 17, wherein the top of the frame has a plurality of thethreaded holes and a plurality of mounting shoes and the bottom has aplurality of ¼×20 and ⅜×16 threaded holes.
 23. The camera mountingbracket of claim 17, wherein a distal end of at least one leg has amaterial attached thereto to facilitate sliding of the leg within thehandle.